Well, you got your hockey gear and it looks great. But now that the season is over, you realize the fun and games aren’t as much fun without proper cleaning and maintenance. Hockey is a winter sport that requires you to use certain equipment such as hockey gloves, helmet, and other accessories. These items will accumulate a certain amount of sweat and oil as you play. Having these items cleaned and maintained is key to making sure they stay in good condition and protect you during the winter months. If your hands are dry and chapped after playing, your gloves aren’t doing their job. The same goes for your helmet; if it doesn’t stay securely on your head, you might as well not be wearing it. Believe it or not, washing your hockey equipment is actually not that difficult. But before we get into how to wash your hockey gear in the tub, it is important to understand a few things about the different materials used in making them.
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The Fiberglass Helmets And Face Shields
Many people believe that if a product can go in the water, it can be washed. This is not strictly true when referring to hockey helmets and face shields. These are two different types of protective gear that you wear during hockey play and they require different methods of cleaning and maintaining. While most people think that cleaning their hockey helmet is the same as washing their glasses, it is actually far more complicated. The main difference is that you cannot simply wash your hockey helmet because it might come apart or break if you do. This is why most people opt to leave their helmets alone and only clean them when they are actually dirtied during play. To be able to clean your hockey helmet, you need to remove it, dry it, and then clean it with liquid detergents and other specific shampoo products. You might also need to add a couple of drops of essential oil to make it smell good again. The same goes for face shields; although they are thinner than hockey helmets, they require a similar amount of work to clean and maintain. Even if you don’t get wet during the course of play, it is crucial to clean your face shield at least once a week to ensure that it stays in good condition. It is also a good idea to replace it every two years or when it starts looking a little shabby or tattered.
On a similar note, many people think that cleaning your skates is a lot like cleaning your bike. In truth, skates require a little more care and attention than most other types of sports equipment because they are much more susceptible to damage. The main reason being that they are thinner and easier to chew through. This is why it is best to avoid chewing or touching them with your hands while they are wet and instead clean them with a clean cloth. Doing this ensures that you don’t tear or shred them as you play. While some people clean their skates once a month, it is usually recommended that you clean them more frequently depending on how much you use them. This ensures that they stay in good condition and are ready for the next season when it comes time to buy new pairs.
The White Pucks And Blocking Skates
The third type of equipment that you will need if you play hockey is pucks. These are the round, white objects that you shoot at the net to score goals. Pucks are very easy to clean; you just need to wipe them down with a cloth or dip them in a bucket of water. As with most other sports equipment, you need to make sure that the oil and sweat has been wiped off before continuing to use the puck. You also need to make sure that you dry them thoroughly after every wash to keep their whiteness. This is why it is best to use a couple of paper towels to make sure that each and every part of the puck is dry before storing it. It is also important to note here that some pucks can be abrasive; if you play on a rough surface, you might end up wearing down your shooting hand. To protect it, you can either use a different kind of puck or put on some heavy-duty gloves before playing.
How To Wash Hockey Equipment In The Tub
Wash your hockey equipment in the tub in the following manner:
- Remove everything apart from the skates and place it in the tub.
- Fill the tub with warm water and around it, place the skates in a single layer. Make sure that each item is clean and dry before storing it. If there is any oil or dirt on any of the surfaces, it will attract moths, make stains or cause corrosion.
- After all the items have been washed and dried, put them away in a clean and dry place.
As you can see, there is quite a bit of work that goes into keeping your hockey equipment in good condition. With proper care and attention, it is certainly doable. You just need to be a bit mindful of the different materials that each item is made of and the frequency at which you clean it. With a little bit of research and education, you will be able to maintain peak performance during the winter months and beyond. There is also the option for you to become more involved with the hockey community. In this way, you can help others who are also looking for advice on how to wash and care for their equipment properly. You can find these communities on social media such as Twitter and Reddit.